A Prayer for the New Year

God grant us this year a wider view,

So we see others' faults through the eyes of You.

Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,

Neither the adult ... nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure

And a stronger faith so we feel secure.

Instead of remembering,

help us forgetThe irritations that caused us to fret.

Freely forgiving for some offence

And finding each day a rich recompense.

In offering a friendly, helping hand

And trying in all ways to understand;

That all of us whoever we are ...

Are trying to reach an unreachable star.

For the great and small ... the good and bad,

The young and old ... the sad and glad

Are asking today;

Is life worth living?

The answer is only in, loving and giving.

For only Love can make man kind

And Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.

By giving love, we can help this year

To lift the clouds of hate and fear.

by Helen Steiner Rice